A peace plan to end the bloodshed in Syria is in danger of collapse after eleventh hour Government demands were rejected by rebels.
The truce plan, devised by UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan, was due to come into effect on Tuesday.
But on Sunday, Syria's Foreign Ministry made fresh demands - insisting they will only withdraw troops after a written guarantee from rebels to lay down their weapons.
That demand was swiftly rejected by the rebels.
Riad al-Asaad, Free Syrian Army commander, said he was ready to abide by a UN brokered truce, but did not recognise the regime and thus "will not give guarantees".
Annan's spokesman made no comment on the setback and he has not said what would happen if his deadlines were ignored.
Annan's spokesman made no comment on the setback and he has not said what would happen if his deadlines were ignored.
The envoy was due in Turkey today for a visit to Syrian refugee camps near the border, a Turkish diplomatic source said.
Even before the setback, expectations were low that the Bashar al-Assad regime would honour the agreement.
Russia, an Assad ally that supports the ceasefire plan, may now be the only one able to salvage it.
Russia, an Assad ally that supports the ceasefire plan, may now be the only one able to salvage it.
The rest of the international community, unwilling to contemplate military intervention, has little leverage over Syria.
In recent days, instead of preparing for a withdrawal, regime troops have stepped up shelling attacks on residential areas.
In recent days, instead of preparing for a withdrawal, regime troops have stepped up shelling attacks on residential areas.
The shelling has killed dozens of civilians every day in what the opposition have described as a frenzied rush to gain ground.
Activists said at least 21 people were killed in violence on Sunday.
"Mortar rounds are falling like rain," said activist Tarek Badrakhan, describing an assault in the central city of Homs on Sunday.
"Mortar rounds are falling like rain," said activist Tarek Badrakhan, describing an assault in the central city of Homs on Sunday.
He spoke via Skype as explosions were heard in the background. The regime is exploiting the truce plan "to kill and commit massacres", he said.
Annan said that the escalation was "unacceptable" but Syria said its acceptance of the Annan deal last week was misunderstood.
Annan said that the escalation was "unacceptable" but Syria said its acceptance of the Annan deal last week was misunderstood.
Instead, Assad's government has suggested it would not be able to withdraw its troops under current conditions.
In addition to requesting written guarantees from the opposition, Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdessi has made several other demands.
In addition to requesting written guarantees from the opposition, Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdessi has made several other demands.
The Government wants assurances from Annan that Qatar, Turkey and Saudi Arabia - Assad's most active critics - halt "financing and arming of terrorist groups".
Qatar and Saudi Arabia are said to be creating a multimillion dollar fund to pay rebel fighters.
Qatar and Saudi Arabia are said to be creating a multimillion dollar fund to pay rebel fighters.
Turkey, meanwhile, has floated the idea of creating buffer zones for refugees in Syrian territory, near the Turkish border.
Many had expected the Assad regime to stall and create new obstacles to a truce because it has little to fear from the international community, said analysts.
Many had expected the Assad regime to stall and create new obstacles to a truce because it has little to fear from the international community, said analysts.
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